Incidents erupt at Serbian Parliament session

The session, with 62 items on the agenda, began at 10 am with the playing of the national anthem, however, disturbances erupted just after 11 am when smoke bombs were activated and flares lit in the Parliament chamber.

Opposition MPs unfurled banners with drawings of bloodstained hands and messages “Serbia is Rising to Bring Down the Regime,” “We Stand with Educators,” and “General Strike.”

In response, government MPs shouted “Ustasha” at the opposition, while Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic accused them of being supporters of Albanian Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Two MPs from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) were injured, and one pregnant woman felt unwell.

Among the 62 points on the agenda were proposed amendments to the Law on Higher Education, a draft law on housing loans for young people, and a vote on the dismissal of Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic.

The opposition Green-Left Front proposed that the session focus only on the Law on Higher Education and the acceptance of the Serbian Government’s resignation, requesting the removal of all other agenda items. However, this proposal was rejected.

There is a visible police presence inside the Parliament building.

In the meantime, students and citizens gathered outside the parliament building. At the invitation of Faculty of Law and technical faculties’ students, the crowd held a 15-minute moment of silence for the 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. The crowd outside the Parliament could be heard chanting “Thieves, thieves!”

The session is still ongoing.